Why I started watching movies with my kids? And some of our favorite movies!

I have never been a big fan of watching television and have never encouraged my kids for it. I admit that as time progressed, I started allowing them some screen time and I became a bit relaxed about how much they watch. At times because, I needed the help of the idiot box to save my sanity😉.

A lot have been spoken and written about limiting screen time for children and I am an ardent believer in it. At the same time, I observed that ‘What they watch? ‘and ‘How much they watch?’ go hand in hand. We often don’t realise the importance of quality content, parental supervision and co-viewing.

The days I snuggled up and watched television with my kids, it surprised me how much fun and learning happened through it. I have watched a lot of episodes of ‘The cat in the hat’ with my daughter and discussed amazing discoveries they made in each episode. At other times, I explained to my son, about why Daniel Tiger gets angry, why feelings are valid and how to use words to describe emotions.

Co-viewing means watching media with your children. It also implies talking, discussing and understanding both the positive and negative aspects of the content with your children. Co-viewing does not mean that you have to watch every show with your children. I have failed to survive 30 minutes of PJ Masks.

Popular media impacts children in a lot of ways. Media affects impressionable children’s mind in more ways than we can imagine. When parents explain, discuss the content, they can moderate and get positive effects out of the media.

Co viewing is even more important with teenagers where the screen time increases. It is crucial to discuss many relevant issues which popular media depicts. Radhika, a mom of two teenage sons, share how the lines of communications with her children, opened when they started watching Big Bang theory together. A number of important issues like smoking, drugs, rejection, loss and death can be discussed openly when viewing the content together

Coviewing can be used to bring positive experience by asking age appropriate questions to your children

Ask your Pre-schoolers:

1. Who was the story about?

2. What was the sequence of the story?

3. What happened?

4. What words did the characters use?

5. Were the characters angry, sad, happy?

Ask your 5- 9-year olds:

1. What was the conflict about?

2. How did the characters resolve the conflict?

3. What inspired you the most?

4. Did you learn from any of the characters?

5. Were their any characters that you did not like? Why ?

Ask 10 years and older children:

1. What do they think about social norms?

2. Do they resonate with any of the characters?

3. Do they see the same behaviour around them?

4. How would they deal if they were in the same situation?

Friday night movies has been a much-awaited ritual in our family. It helps us unwind and bond with the kids. Besides, it helps us to expose children to some of the classics and talk to them about both the positive and negative side of life. I am sharing a list of some of the classics to watch with your children:

1. A little princess is a 1995, Oscar nominated movie, based on a young girl who has been subject to a life of servitude at a boarding school in New York ,after her father goes missing.,. Watch a snippet here: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2052259865?playlistId=tt0113670&ref_=tt_ov_vi

2. Stand by me is a perfect little story about the tale of 4 boys who are interested to see how a dead body looks like. It is a poignant take about childhood. It is appropriate for over 13 children. Watch a snipper here: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2284829721?playlistId=tt0092005&ref_=tt_ov_vi

3. Mama mia musical– I have watched this movie several times. It could be because I love the Abba songs. A young girl looks out to find who her real father is just days before her wedding. The story takes funny turns as there are three possible suspects who could be the girl’s father. Watch a snippet here: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3165782297?playlistId=tt0795421&ref_=tt_ov_vi

4. The chronicles of Narnia is a classic tale about 4 children who escape into a wardrobe to a mystical world. Watch a snippet here: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3727140377?playlistId=tt0363771&ref_=tt_ov_vi

5. Matilda is based on Roald Dahl’s novel about a little girl who loves to read and how she uses her superpowers to get rid of her didactic headmistress. Watch a snippet here: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3465871641?playlistId=tt0117008&ref_=tt_ov_vi

6. The lord of the rings is a series of three movies based in a fictional land called Middle Earth. The story is the journey of Hobbit and his companions try to destroy the evil One Ring to save Middle Earth. Watch a snippet here: Watch a snipper here: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2073101337?playlistId=tt0120737&ref_=tt_ov_viS

7. Bridge to Terabithia is a poignant movie. The story revolves around the about two kids,12-year-old neighbours, who create their own fantasy world to play after being subject to bullying. It is a rather sad movie and might leave you feeling emotionally stirred up. Watch a snippet here : https://www.imdb.com/video/vi227804697?playlistId=tt0398808&ref_=tt_ov_vi

8. Karate Kid is my personal favourite. It is a coming of age movie about a young boy, who moves to China with his mother. The story revolves around him learning kung fu to deal with his bullies. Watch a snippet here:https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1258882073?playlistId=tt1155076&ref_=tt_ov_vi

9. Hugo can be an introduction to Martin Scorsese for children. The story is set in Paris in the early 30’s. It is about an orphan who gets involved in some action which involved his late father. Watch a snippet here : https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2781978137?playlistId=tt0970179&ref_=tt_ov_vi

10. Nim’s island is a cute adventure story of a girl and her scientist father, who live on a deserted island. The story takes a turn when the girls father goes missing and she gets in tough with a mystery novel writer. Watch a snippet here :https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2712797465?playlistId=tt0410377&ref_=tt_ov_vi

11. Flipper is a 1963 movie. It has been remade but I liked the old one more than the new. The protagonist is a boy who befriends a dolphin. The story revolves around their adventures together.

12. Watch a snippet here : https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3244080921?playlistId=tt0057063&ref_=tt_ov_vi

13. School of Rock is suitable for children over 13. It’s a story of how after being thrown out of a rock band, the protagonist becomes an elementary school teacher and trains his class into a rock band. Watch a snippet here: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3338207513?playlistId=tt0332379&ref_=tt_ov_vi

References: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/